Trying to trap cat & kittens...

I posted here a few weeks back....

I found a cat that had some kittens outside my house. I guess they live under my home. I learned at the time the kittens were probably too young to leave their mom. There was a runt of the group, which I picked up, took to the vets (tests came back negative), and the vet is trying to find that kitten a home. I was told the vet would not take the others though.

Right now, I have the mother cat and three kittens still outside. I have no idea what to do. I have a dog, so I cannot keep them. I went to the humane society to get a 'trap', but haven't figured it out yet. I think the kittens are not strong enough to set the trap off. They seem to be 7-8 weeks old. I also bought a medium size carrier to keep them in if I catch them.

My concern is the mother cat. When I first saw her, she hissed at me and ran away, but since I have been feeding her, she doesn't hiss at all. She will look at me and then go back to eating. I really am not sure what to do if I do catch her. The humane society told me if I go in there with a cat and kittens that were wild, they will all be put down.

For now, I would like to catch just the kittens and find them a home. I am worried about catching the mom because I don't know how she would react. If I keep her in the (medium size) carrier with her kittens, I am not sure if she would be agressive and protect the kittens. I have a feeling she would.

So far, the trap hasn't caught anything, but what should I do if I trap the mom before the kittens? I really don't have anywhere to keep her. If she is a hisser, I don't know that I could take her into the humane society to get spayed because they may ask if I own her. I would LOVE to get her spayed, but I am not sure what kind of information I would need to give whoever spays her. They may want to know if she's wild or not. I was told to get her spayed and then let her run free again. but, I don't think any vet or humane society will do that if I tell them I am letting the cat free.

Anyway, should I focus on trapping the kittens first and if I catch the mom let her go? I have no clue.. I really think I can find the kittens home, but I don't want the mom to become agressive if I keep all four of them together. I also don't want to wait long enough so that I'll have four wild cats.

TNR - trap neuter release is pretty common so the vets shouldnt have a problem with you spaying them releasing her. Some vets may even give you discounted prices or do it for free.

Originally Posted by maverick_kitten

TNR - trap neuter release is pretty common so the vets shouldnt have a problem with you spaying them releasing her. Some vets may even give you discounted prices or do it for free.

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Not around here they don't. Many charge extra if it is a feral cat because of the purported danger of handling one. I would trap the mom, and as for the kittens, they do have kitten traps. I am not sure what you mean about not figuring out the trap yet? Do you not know how to set it? or is your concern that the kittens won't trigger it? If it is a Hav-A-Heart Trap adult size several kittens inside of it will trigger it off.

Originally Posted by hissy

Not around here they don't. Many charge extra if it is a feral cat because of the purported danger of handling one.

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thats such a shame, vets should do more to help the feral cat population when they have a chance. My vet tnr's a little so is good about things like that and a couple of other vets i have been to have posters up offering free/discount neutering for strays/ferals.

Where in California are you? If you are in the major metropolitan area like San Fransisco or Los Angeles there ARE cheap ways and vouchers for Ferals. Where in CA are you? There may be a TNR group which could help you and educate you.

Wait, I just read your username, if you are in LA I can *definately* help you. Let me know for sure.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I appreciate all your replies... I am in the Pasadena, California area...

I will probably end up catching the mother first, I just want to make sure the vet I find will allow me to pay for the cat to be spayed and let her go. I am not really worried about her being outside, because I do live on a culd-a-sac, so she really cannot get hit here. The mother cat (and the kittens), look quite healthy, so when I do catch her, I would like to post he picture around to see if someone owns her.

I PMed you some web addresses, but I looked up Pasadena Ferals and came up with this:

http://www.phsspca.org/SNiP/index.htm

Which looks great and worth looking into.

About the trap.. we'll, it's a long metal box with a 'hook' on one end and a door on the other. I have to hook up the food and the cat is supposed to go in and trigger it. I tried using a paper plate hanging it onto the hook using string (?). On the plate, I would place some tuna. I would check later and would see the food gone and the trap untouched. I am not sure what kind of dish I can hook onto the trap, because the way I tried it does not work. The hook needs to be pulled down for the trap to work. If I make the food too high, I don't think the kittens can reach it. I am not sure what type of food I can attach right on the hook.

Ok color me confused, but I have never seen one where you hang the food? The hook hooks to the front of the trap to keep the door open once the trigger is set. This is not a trap I have ever heard of before-

Thank you so much for the link. I took a quick look and it seems to be connected with the Humane Society. I did call them up a few days ago asking about taking the mother cat and kittens. I was asked if they were ferral and when I said yes the lady said 'then we have to put them all down'. I know that humane societies would be cheaper to get the mom spayed, but would it be safer to go to a private vet? I am not sure if there is a law that if I tell them I will let the cat run free they need to tell the humane society.

yeah, I really don't understand why I need to hang the food. I don't think it's going to work. This trap seems like it's for a much bigger animal and not made for kittens. I may return it tomorrow, but I'll try again. I just think there should have been some sort of dish to hook up included with the trap.

Some of that website seemed to indicate they supported TNR, but personally I don't know.

While they are a good distance from Pasadena I *know* the Animal Birth Control Clinics offer low-cost spaying for ferals. The Dr in charge is well known in Feral/rescue circles. If it is too far away maybe they can recommend something closer.

The West Los Angeles animal shelter (at the corner of Bundy and Missouri) will provide vouchers for spaying and neutering, which can be used at specific veterinarians. The vets have no issues with capture-and-release; it is the most human option.

I am trying to catch a mother, father, and three kittens. They are about 10 weeks old now, so time is running out.

They usually come in a group, and I'm worried that as soon as a humane trap catches one, that the rest will not be so easily fooled. Does anyone know of a large trap that can be sprung remotely, so I can wait for the whole family to get inside and spring it myself?

Originally Posted by tmorten

The West Los Angeles animal shelter (at the corner of Bundy and Missouri) will provide vouchers for spaying and neutering, which can be used at specific veterinarians. The vets have no issues with capture-and-release; it is the most human option.

I am trying to catch a mother, father, and three kittens. They are about 10 weeks old now, so time is running out.

They usually come in a group, and I'm worried that as soon as a humane trap catches one, that the rest will not be so easily fooled. Does anyone know of a large trap that can be sprung remotely, so I can wait for the whole family to get inside and spring it myself?

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I believe some people from this board have had success using a drop trap. To find out how to make one...you can go here:

http://www.alleycat.org/resources_care.html

go to Drop Trap Instructions

Katie